Author: Tavakalian Edgar

10% ECONOMY GROWTH IN ARMENIA ACCOMPANIED BY BAFFLING POLITICAL PROCESSES
By A. Haroutiunian

AZG Armenian Daily
12/07/2007

The British "Ecomomist" research group recenetly published a report,
which stated that Armenia had 13% economy growth in 2006 and predicted
13% growth for 2007. Radio Liberty informs that "Economist" researched
the economical indexes of Eastern European and post-Soviet states
for 2006 and made prognosis for 2007.

In all 28 states under review unprecedented economic growth was
registered in 2006 – over 7%, and the same tendency was observable
in the first half of 2007.

In the regions under consideration foreign investments made up $108
billion in 2006, which is 40% more than in 2005. in 2005 foreign
investments amounted only $77 billion. According to date provided
by "Economist" economy growth of Azerbaijan in 2006 made up 34,5%,
and in 2007 it is to equal 20% approximately.

Armenia is the third among the countries under review with over 13%
economy growth in 2006 and with 10% prognosticated for 2007. The most
swiftly developing regions are South Caucasus and Central Asia.

"Economist’s" experts also note that in eastern Europe, in despite
for progress in economy, baffling political processes are going on:
the situation in Eastern Europe, tensions in Russia-West relations,
traces of authoritarianism in a number of CIS states.

Experts state that the economical progress is not affected by the
negative processes yet, but there is certain threat that incorrect
policy may harm economy.

EUROPEAN OFFICIAL FOR MORE PRESSURE ON ARMENIANS, AZERIS TO RESOLVE CONFLICT

Interfax, Russia
July 9 2007

Baku, 9 July: The international community "has to step up pressure
on Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict",
the president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
[PACE], Rene van der Linden, said at today’s press conference in
Baku. He came to Baku yesterday at the end of his seven-day tour of
the South Caucasus countries.

The PACE head believes that international organizations, including
the Council of Europe, cannot take decisions on behalf of Armenia
or Azerbaijan. "But we can help the two countries to reach peaceful
settlement of the conflict," van der Linden said. He voiced what he
said was "resolute" position of the Council of Europe with regard to
the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict: "The occupied territories have to be
returned; the conflict can only be resolved through negotiations and
dialogue and not through war."

When becoming members of the Council of Europe, Armenia and
Azerbaijan committed themselves to settling the conflict through
political means, he said. "By remaining in the state of conflict
Armenia deprives itself of many prospects, including participation
in regional projects. Therefore, settling the conflict would be
in the interests of Armenia," he added. Responding to questions by
journalists on this topic, Rene van der Linden said that "the Council
of Europe has soft power and does not use sanctions against Armenia",
which continues to occupy 20 per cent of Azerbaijan’s land, "but only
puts pressure on the country so that peaceful settlement is achieved".

Rene van der Linden also voiced support for the recent visit of
Azerbaijani and Armenian intelligentsia to Yerevan, Baku and Nagornyy
Karabakh at the initiative of the ambassadors of the two countries in
Russia. "By all means we support such initiatives. Such contacts – at
the level of citizens, NGOs, students, scholars and artists – create
the basis for tackling the conflict," the PACE official noted. He also
said that at the April session of PACE he himself advocated a visit
to the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict zone of parliamentary delegations
from Azerbaijan and Armenia.

MATTHEW BRYZA: THE PRESIDENTS OF ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN MUST TAKE A HARD DECISION

armradio.am
10.07.2007 14:42

The American Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew Bryza declared at
a joint briefing with the Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Araz
Azimov that "we proceed from the desire to negotiate a compromise
between two fundamental principles which are the principles of a
state’s right to its territorial integrity and the people’s right
to self-determination."

The American diplomat noted that there is no "universal formula" or
an "accepted way" in the world for finding compromise between these
two principles.

"We are in a stage when the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan must
take serious and hard decision. The Presidents have demonstrated
political will and have brought the negotiations to a point after
which hard decisions are to be taken on the level of Presidents,"
Matthew Bryza said.

The American mediator characterized the recent joint visit of the
Armenian and Azerbaijani intellectuals to Stepanakert, Yerevan and
Baku as "a great and serious measure directed at reinforcement of
mutual trust."

Mathew Bryza noted that sometimes "people do not pay due attention
to means of reinforcement of trust." In his words, the fact that
the Governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan have managed to organize
this visit with the support of the OSCE Minsk Group and the Personal
Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office "inspires hope."

PACE President due in Armenia

armradio.am
04.07.2007 10:22

President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)
Rene van der Linden is arriving in Armenia. Public Relations Department
of the National Assembly informs that meetings with NGO representatives
are envisaged in the framework of the visit. The PACE President will
meet with RA President will be received by RA President Robert
Kocharyan, the Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and NA Speaker
Tigran Torosyan. Meetings with the members of the Parliamentary
Standing Committee on European Integration and heads of NA factions are
expected. The results of the visit will be summed up with a press
conference at the National Assembly. On July 5 PACE President Rene van
der Linden will leave Yerevan for Tbilisi.

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
July 4 2007

NKR MFA: CE CASTS DOUBT ON THE ELECTION INSTITUTE AS DEMOCRACY’S
IMPORTANT ELEMENT

Nagorno-Karabagh Republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed
regret over the statements made by the representatives of the Council
of Europe with the condemnation of the presidential elections to be
held in the Nagorno-Karabagh.
`’It arouses regret that the representatives of the Council of Europe
– the organization, which is called to protect and propagate the
ideals and principles of pluralistic democracy, human rights and
supremacy of law by means of integration processes – condemns holding
of elections. By doing so they cast doubt on the election institute
as an important element of democracy, which contradicts the Council
of Europe’s Charter”, NKR FM Georgy Petrossian stated, commenting on
Vuk Jeremic’s statement, according to which upcoming presidential
elections in the NKR could not contribute to the conflict settlement
and hamper the talks.
According to the NKR FM, unless the European officials wish to
contribute to the democratic processes in the NKR, then `’we have the
right to expect that they, at least, will not hamper strengthening of
democratic institutes in our Republic”. `’ We are deeply sure that
democratization is an important precondition for the Karabagh
conflict’s settlement, as democracy presupposes establishment of
mechanisms, which allow solving any conflict only by peaceful means.
That is what the Nagorno-Karabagh Republic is striving for. It would
be natural if the representatives of various European structures
shared this striving”, Georgy Petrossian noted.

MILITARY ATTACHE TO U.S. EMBASSY AWARDED WITH "GAREGIN NJDEH" MEDAL

Noyan Tapan
Jul 2, 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 2, NOYAN TAPAN. Mikayel Haroutiunian, the RA Minister
of Defence, received Anthony Godfrey, the Charge d’Affaires of the
U.S. Embassy in the Republic of Armenia, on the occasion of the tenure
expiration of Colonel and Military Attache Russell Grimley in Armenia.

According to the message received from the RA Ministry of Defence,
Anthony Godfrey introduced Robert Baxter, the newly-appointed military
attache and lieutenant-colonel, at the beggining of the meeting.

M. Haroutiunian expressed his thankfulness to Russel Grimley for
productive cooperation and awarded the latter a "Garegin Njdeh"
medal of the RA Armed Forces.

The two sides discussed issues concerning the current state of
bilateral relations in the military sphere and the prospects of making
them deeper during the meeting.

CELEBRATING DIVERSITY: OPEN AIR JAZZ CONCERT IN YEREVAN

Lragir.am
02-07-2007 16:04:01

Combating racism, xenophobia and promoting intercultural dialogue
are the main themes of the Council of Europe All Different-All Equal
youth campaign.

The aim of this campaign is to inspire people across our continent
to be more involved in constructing pluralistic societies based on
respect for diversity and inclusion.

Originally launched in 1995 by the Council of Europe to mark the
fiftieth anniversary of the end of the Second World War, the campaign
was re-launched on 29 June 2006 in Strasbourg and has become an
important mobilizing tool for young people across Europe to act
jointly against racism, anti-Semitism, xenophobia and intolerance.

To celebrate diversity and inclusive democratic participation, the
Council of Europe Information Office in Armenia together with the
Cafesjian Museum Foundation are organizing an open air concert of
live jazz music.

The concert will take place on Thursday, 5 July, from 20:00 to 22:00
at the Cascade park area. Armen Martirosyan’s Armenian Jazz Band
will perform well-known tunes by famous musicians that cut across
cultural boundaries, in celebration of the diversity and richness of
international culture.

The event will be opened by Armen Baiburtyan, RoA Deputy Foreign
Minister, and Bojana Urumova, Special Representative of the Secretary
General of the Council of Europe.

Tolerance and intercultural dialogue are at the heart of the Council
of Europe activities and form significant part of the Organisation’s
conventions. In this regard Armenia has signed and ratified the
European Cultural Convention, the European Charter for Regional and
Minority Languages, the Framework Convention for the Protection of
National Minorities and the European Convention on the Protection of
the Archaeological Heritage (Revised).

Armenia has signed but not yet ratified the Convention for the
Protection of the Architectural Heritage of Europe and the Council
of Europe Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage
for Society.

Other related conventions – which have yet to be signed by the South
Caucasus countries – are the European Convention on Offences Relating
to Cultural Property and the Convention on the Participation of
Foreigners in Public Life at Local Level.

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) is
the Council of Europe’s independent human rights monitoring body
specialised in questions relating to racism and intolerance.

ECRI has issued two reports on Armenia. In its second report the
Commission recommends that the Armenian authorities adopt a law on
national minorities which takes into account, as much as possible,
national minorities’ suggestions and points of view. It recommends that
the Armenian authorities take more steps to address the problems faced
by the Yezidi community, particularly with regard to policing, land,
water and grazing disputes. ECRI also urges the Armenian authorities
to take measures to ensure minority access to the country’s public
and political life and ensure better access to higher education.

AZG Armenian Daily #123, 30/06/2007

Foreign Relations

"FRENCH PEOPLE’S SUPPORT TO ARMENIA WILL NEVER CEASE"

Interview With Ambassador of France to Armenia

– Mr. Ambassador, what do you think about the development of
diplomatic, political, economical and cultural relations between
Armenia and France after the parliamentary and presidential elections
in Armenia and France?

– I think it is obvious that the presidential elections both in
Armenia and France will bring noi essential change into the bilateral
relations between our states. The present state of our relations is
satisfactory for Armenia and France, but both the sides are willing to
enhance the cooperation. No doubt, the cooperation shall go on not
only on highest governmental level, but the contacts between
associations, cities and regions shall also enrich our dialogue.

– Shall France have an essential role in the peace process on
Nagorno-Karabakh, as the state presiding in the EU?

– In the frameworks of the OSCE Minsk Group France, together with
Russia and the USA, is striving to find a solution to the conflict in
Nagorno-Karabakh. Of course, France could have beeen satisfied just by
the EU assistance to the process of Karabakh conflict’s
settlement. Nevertheless, the Minsk Group is the most convenient
format of finding solution to the Karabakh conflict.

– What do you think, how can the vast Armenian community of France and
the eight-million Diaspora help establishing true democracy in
Armenia, when the Government has begrudged them dual citizenship even
after it was approved by Constitutional referendum?

– Naturally, France encourages the progress of democracy in Armenia,
but interfering its relations with the Diaspora is beyond its
authority.

– Taking into consideration the political crisis in Turkey and the
position of official Ankara about the Armenian genocide, what will be
the position of the new government of France on Turkey’s admittance to
the EU?

– Those issues are attended in France with great interest. The newly
formed Government has not come to any certain opinion on that
question. At this moment I would rather avoid any comment.

– What would you like to say to our readers in Armenia and the
Diaspora?

– I would not only send message of confirming firmness and longitude
of our relations, which is proved by continual contacts on all the
levels, but also assure that the support of the French people to
Armenia shall never cease.

Questions suggested by Hamo Moskofian

ARMENIAN FROM BEIRUT, PIERRE GUYUMCHIAN, GRANTS DIGITALIZATION DEVICE TO MATENADARAN FOR TWO MONTHS

Noyan Tapan
Jun 29, 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 29, NOYAN TAPAN. Pierre Guyumchian, an Armenian engineer
from Beirut, granted a digitalization device Atiz BookDrive Diy to
Mesrop Mashtots Matenadaran for two months. An agreement "On Free of
Charge Use of Property" was signed on June 26 between Arshak Banuchian,
the Acting Director of Matenadaran, and P. Guyumchian.

In P. Guyumchian’s words, it occurred to him to give that device to
Matenadaran after the stir over the agreement signed between the U.S.

Minnesota Hill Museum-Library of Manuscrips and Matanadaran.

P. Guyumchian stated that Matenadaran’s manuscripts should be
digitalized without the participation of foreigners, only Armenian
specialists should be engaged in it. "There are few centers like
Matenadaran in the world, and we should not give out its wealth
to foreigners," he said. P. Guyumchian said that before coming to
Armenia he visited Mayravank in Antelias and was upset to find out
that part of the books kept there had been already digitalized by the
Hill Museum-Library. As a result, if someone wishes to use that books,
he should receive the Hill Library’s consent. At the same time, P.

Guyumchian said that the device given by him is more suitable and
operates more smoothly than the one offered by the Hill Library.

A. Banuchian said that they plan to find out by means of the device
given by P. Guyumchian how quickly manuscripts’ digitalization is
done, how much that device is useful for that purpose, whether it
can be perfected, and how many devices of the kind are necessary for
digitalization of all manuscripts of Matenadaran.

The RA Ministry of Education and Science charged Matenadaran to
submit a manuscripts digitalization program to the RA government
within three months.

In A. Banuchian’s words, this program should also include manuscripts’
restoration, photography, creating databases, as well as publication
of unpublished originals.

It was mentioned that a proposal of a method of Matenadaran
manuscripts’ digitalization has been received from Karl Franz
University of the city of Graz, Austria.

DRAWING OF LOTS OF UEFA’S CUP TOURNAMENT AND CHAMPION LEAGUE TO TAKE PLACE ON JUNE 29

Noyan Tapan
Jun 28, 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 28, NOYAN TAPAN. The drawing of lots for the UEFA’s
Cup tournament and Champions League of the 2007-08 tournament season
will take place in the central station of UEFA in the city of Nion in
Switzerland on June 29. Pyunik will represent Armenia in the Champions
League, and Banants and Mika will play in the UEFA Cup tournament.